Air cooler



W. WISHART ET AL AIR COOLER s sheets-sheet 1 Filed Aug. 8, 1921 111-41 S/iari Feb. 11.1925. 1,526,448

W. WISHART ET AL AIR COOLER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 8, 1921 Feb. 17.- 1925.

W. WISHART ET AL AIR COOLER 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 I Filed Aug. 8, 1921 E w m Patented Feb. 17; 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM WISHART AND ALBERT H. MORRELL, F CLINTON, IOWA, ASSIGNORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, 'ro GLIMAX ENGINEERING COMPANY, or CLINTON, IOWA,

A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

AIR COOLER.

Application filed August a, 1921. Serial No. 490,778.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM. WISHART and Annau'r H. MoRnELL, citizens of the United States, and residents of the city of Clinton, in the county of Clinton and State of Iowa,'have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Air Coolers; and

we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description 0 the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the numerals of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention pertains more particularly to an improved type of air cooler for refrigerators wherein an insulated tank or bunker is mounted to one side of a refrigerator box and contains a series of expansion coils around which warm air from the refrigerator box is blown by means of a fan which acts to blow the warm air downwardly around the expansion coils to cool. the air and then force said. cooled air into the refrigerator box to cool the same.

It is an object of this invention to provide an air cooler adapted to be used in connection with a compact refrigerating unit and with a refrigerator box to permit cooling of said box.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an air cooler adapted to be connected with a refrigerating box to cause the circulation of cooled air therethrough.

A further object of the invention is to provide an air cooler having pipes for connecting the same with a refrigerator box to permit air to be drawn from .the box and forced through the cooler around expansion coils to be cooled before being returned to said box to cool the same.

It is another object of this invention to provide an air cooler adapted to be stationed on the exterior of a refrigerator box and connected therewith by air outlet and inlet pipes to permit the air of the reirigerator box to be maintained at a sufficiently low temperature to preserve food products and meats placed Within said box.

It is an important object of this invention to provide an air cooler of simple and effective construction adapted to be connected between a self-contained refrigeratmg unit and with one or more refrigerating boxes to be cooled.

Other and further important objects of thls Invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the specification and drawlngs.

The invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a refrlgeratlng plant embodying the principles of this invention and shown associated with a refrigerator box.

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional. View taken on line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail section taken on line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary detail section taken on line 44 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a top plan View of the cooler with parts broken away.

As shown on the drawings:

The reference numeral 1 indicates a refrigerator box provided with a floor 2. which divides the interior of the box into an upper chamber ordinarily used for ice and a lower chamber for storing meats and other food products to be kept cold. A door 3 is provided in the box 1 to afford access to the upper chamber wherein ice is ordinarily stored for cooling the box. When the refrigerator box 1s equipped with an air cooler ice of course is not needed.

The air cooler comprises a vertical bunker, container or tank 4 provided with a lining 5 of heat insulating material. Secured upon the top of the tank 4 and overhanging one side thereof are a pair of bracket arms 6 upon which an electric motor 7 is supported. Connected to the motor shaft is a fan shaft 8 which is journalled in a tube 9. The tube 9 projects into the tank 4 and into a main or upper pipe 10. Engaged on the end of the fan shaft 8 is a fan 11. The fan shaft tube 9 is supported by the tank walls and by a vertical refrigerant outlet pipe 12 mounted axiallywithin the tank 4. The upper air pipe 10 projects through an opening in the refrigerator box 1 and is bent upwardly at 13. The n per end of the pipe 10 is open and exten s to IUD ed to-be manually adjusted by a handle or other suitable means.

Connecting the lower end of the tank 4 with the lower chamber of the refrigerator box 1 is a lower or auxiliary air pipe l7 which projects into an opening in said tank. Packing members 18 are engaged around the pipe 17 where it enters the wall of the refrigerator box. A regulating device is secured on the inner end of the air pipe 17 within the box 1, comprising a casing or frame 19 having pivotally mounted therein aplurality of parallel deflectors or blades 20, all of which are adapted to be ad usted simultaneously by means of a crank or handie 21. A damper 17 is mounted in the pipe 17 between the pipe 48 and the deflectors 20 to control the circulation of cold air through the box 1. 'If desired, the damper 17 may be mounted in the pipe 10. a

As illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the tank 4 has mounted therein around therefrlgerant outlet pipe 12, a plurality of superimposed refrigerant expansion coils 22 connected in series one with the other. The expansion coils are of conical formation and project-into one another with the upper end of each coil connected with the lower end of a coil immediately thereabove. This construction is used for the purpose of causing the refrigerant liquid to be trapped in the coils 22 to afford a flooded system whereby the cooling efficiency of the unit is greatly increased. The coils 22 are axially disposed within the tank 4 with the upper end of the uppermost coil connected w.th the upper end of the refrigerant outlet pipe 12. The lower end of the lowermost expansion coil 22 projects out of the tank 4 and is connected by means of-a liquid refrigerant intake pipe 23 with a shutoff valve 24. Connected with the shut-ofi valve 24 by means of a pipe 25 is an automatic expansion valve 26. A pipe 27 connects the valve 26 with a scale trap 28. Attached to the scale trap 28 is'one end of a pipe 29. A refrigerant gas outlet pipe 30 has one-end thereof connected with a shutofi valve 31. The other end of the pipe 30 projects into the tank 4 and into the refrigerant outlet pipe 12 and is directed upwardly in said pipe 12, as illustrated in Figure 2. 'Also connected with the shut-off.

valve 31 is one end of a pipe 32, the other end of which connects up with a self-contained refrigerator unit shown in Figure 1.

Projecting out from the side of the lower end of the tank 4 is a drain pipe 33 for drawing off condensed moisture from said tank.

The refrigerator unit is similar in construction to that shown and described in our copending application for patent for a refrigerating plant, Serial No. 342,615, filed December 5, .1919. The unit embraces a frame 34 having a refrigerant tank 35 supported longitudinally of the lowerportion thereof. The refrigerant liquid inlet pipe 29 is connected with a refrigerant l.quid control valve 36 having a pipe 37 connecting the same with the refrigerant tank 35. Mounted on the sides of the frame 34 are a pair of water cooled condensers 38.

Positionedon the top of the frame 34 and near one end thereof is an electric motor 39 adapted by means of an endless belt 40 to drive the fly-wheel 41 of a compressor 42. The compressor 42 is also mounted upon the top of the, frame 34. A water outlet pipe 43 is connected with thewater jacket of the compressor. Mounted on the compressor 42 is a valve manifold 44 constructed similar to that disclosed in ourcopending application for patent for a valve manifold, Serial No.359,032, filed February 16, 1920. A water pipe connects the water jacket of the compressor with the water tubes of the condensers 38. An automatic thermostatically controlled electric control switch forms a part of the refrigerator unit and is enclosed in a switch case 46, with the exception of the thermostatic mechanism which projects into the refrigerator box 1. Leading from the valve manifold 44 is a suction pipe 47, which connects with the pipe 32 through a scale trap disposed below the top of the frame 34'but hidden from view in the view of the refrigeration unit shown in Figure 1. As shown in Figure 2, an air pipe 47 is connected with the pipe 10 between the box 1 and the tank 4. The pipe 47 is connected to asecond refrigerator box or to a show case or other device which is to be cooled. The second box or show case is further connected by another pipe 48, which is also connected with the pipe 17 at a point between the tank 4 and the box 1. In a similar manner a plurality of refrigerator boxes or devices may be connected with the tank 4 to receive cold. air therefrom. Each pipe 48 is provided with adamper 48 to control the flow of cold air from the tank 4 into the respective box or compartment with which the pipe 48 is connected. The dampers in the pipes 48 may be manually adjusted or controlled by automatic means such as a thermostat if desired. The dampers may be mounted in the pipes 47 instead of in the pipes 48 is preferred.

The air cooler of this invention may be readily connected with a refrigerator box loo by means of the pipes 10 and 17, as clearly shown in Figure 2. When a refrigerator box is equipped with a refrigerating hi 11 side and low side plant as illustrated in Figure 1, the use of ice in the upper chamber of the refrigerator box is no longer necessa The fan motor 7 is controlled by any suitabletype of electric switch and is usually in operation to cause operation of the fan 11 whereby the air in the refrigerator box 1 is constantl circulated upwardly through said box and downwardly around the expansion coils 22 and through the tank 4 by way of the pipes 10 and 17.

When the temperature in the refrigerator box 1 is increased above that determined upon for keeping the box cold, the thermostat controlling the switch mechanism is automatically operated to cause automatic closing of the switch mechanism within the casing 46, thereby starting the motor 39. Operation of the motor 39 acts to cause operation of the compressor whereby the compressed refrigerant liquid from the tank is forced through the liquid control valve 36 and through the pipe 29. The scale trap 28 connected with the pipe 29 may be of any suitable type and 1s adapted to filter the refrigerating liquid passing therethrough into the tank 4. From the scale trap 28 the compressed refrigerant liquid flows through the automatic expansion valve 26 and the shut-ofi' valve 24 into the pipe 23 to enter the lowermost expansion coil 22 in the tank 4. It will of course be understood that the switch mechanism may be operated manually if desired.

The refrigerating liquid flows upwardly through the successive coils 22 and is permitted to expand and absorb the heat from the air circulating downwardly through the tank 4 around the expansion coils. The upper end of the uppermost expansion coil 22 is connected with the upper end of the axial discharge pipe 12, through which the expanded refrigerant from the expansion coils is drawn downwardly in the form of a gas which escapes through the outlet pipe 30. Any refrigerant from the coils 22 which has not been vaporized and finds its way into the upper end of the discharge pipe 12 is permitted to be trapped in the lower end of said pipe while the vaporized refrigerant is permitted to escape through the, open upper end of the outlet pipe 30 which projects upwardly into the pipe 12 for the purpose of affording a pocket of sufiicient capacity to hold the unvaporized refrigerant. The unvaporized refrigerant trapped in the pipe 12 gradually vaporizes and escapes through the pipe 30. From the pipe 30 the heated and expanded refrigerant passes through the shut-off valve 31 into the pipe 32 and then enters the compressor 42 by way of the suction ipe 47 and the valve manifold 44. The eated and expanded refrigerant is compressed by the compressor and is pumped or forced through the condensers 38 where the refrigerant is cooled and condensed. The cooled and compressed refrigerating liquid flows from the condensers 38 back into the tank 35 for re-use in the expansion coils 22.

When the air circulating through the tank 4 and through the refrigerator box 1 is reduced to the cooling temperature desired, the thermostatically controlled switch within the caslng 46 is operated automatically to cause discontinuance of the operation of the motor 39 and the other operating mechanisms of the refrigerator unit. If desired the control switch within the casing 46 may be manually operated instead of being automatically controlled.

The cold air in the refrigerator box and in the tank 4 is circulated by means of the fan 11, which acts to force the air downwardly through the tank 4 around the expansion coils and through the lower pipe 17 and between the deflectors 20 into the box 1. The deflectors 20 are adapted to be adjusted by operation of the handle 21 to direct the direction of flow of the cold air entering the box 1. By opening the damper 16 in the fresh air intake pipe 15 fresh air is permitted to be drawn into the ipe 10 by the fan 11. .The products of cond nsation in the tank 4 are permitted to be drained from said tank through the drain pipe 33.

It will of course be understood that the air cooler may be used with any type of a refrigerator box adapted to permit the pipes 10 and 17 to be connected therewith to allow a circulation of cold air from the tank 4 through the refrigerator box. If desired the refrigerator unit may be located in any convenient place other than that shown and connected with the tank 4 by suitable pipng.

If desired a second refrigerator box or a refrigerated show case may be connected with the tank 4 by means of auxiliary pipes 47 and 48, which, as shown in Figure 2, are connected with the pipes 10 and 17 respectively.

Attention is also directed to 'the fact that the axial refrigerant outlet or return pipe 12 and the pipe 30 may be replaced by a single pipe one end of which is integrally connected with the upper end of the uppermost expansion coil 22, while the other end extends through the tank wall and connects up with the shut-oif valve 31.

7e are aware that numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the rinciples of this invention, and we there ore do not purpose limiting the patent granted otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

We claim as our invention:

1. An air cooler, comprising a tank, a refrigerant outlet pipe disposed axially therein, a plurality of expansion coils connected in series around said refrigerant outlet pipe with the uppermost coil connected with said pipe, an air intake plpe projecting into the tank, a driving mechanism supported on the exterior of the tank, a fan in said air intake pipe, a shaft driven by said driving mechanism projecting into said tank and into said air intake pipe to operate the fan to cause air to circulate through said tank over said coils, and an outlet pipe connected with said tank to permit escape of the cooled air.

2, An air cooler, comprising a tank, a refrigerant outlet pipe secured axially therein, a plurality of conical expansion COIlS connected in series around said refrigerant Isutlet pipe with adjacent coils projecting me within the other and with the uppermost coil connected to said refrigerant outlet pipe, and means within said tank to cause air to be cooled to be circulatedlthrough said tank over said coils.

' 3. An air cooler, comprising a tank, a 're-' frigerant outlet pipe secured therein, a plurality of serially connected interfitting expansion coils engaged around said refrigerant outlet pi c with the uppermost coil connected to sai refrigerant outlet pipe, a refrigerant gas outlet pipe projecting upwardly into said refrigerant outlet pipe, an air inlet pipe connected with the tank, a fan therein, means on said tank for operatin the fan to cause air to be circulated through said tank over said coils to be cooled, an air outlet pipe connected with the tank, and an adjustable exhaust regulating device attached to said air outlet pipe.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto subscribed our names in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM WISHART. ALBERT H. MORRELL. W'itnesses:

FRED E. PAESLER, J AMES' M. OBRIEN. 

